Originally posted by Qhdeputy:I don't like going to a restaurant and having to ask for the "cellar selection" wine list or whatever it might be called. If you given or ask for the wine list, please give them all to me. Not sure why some restaurants have a separate list. Seems as though some revenue might be lost if someone doesn't know to ask for the "other one"

A local high end Italian resturant [PBG]had two lists. One was for the 'good' stuff. He would decide whether he would provide the list to you. Bias!!! I then boycotted him, never ordered a bottle from him. Now he is gone an opened a smaller place in NPB. Still the same sh*$ with the list. [PS you locals might figure out who he is, place starts with "S".

Originally posted by Qhdeputy:I don't like going to a restaurant and having to ask for the "cellar selection" wine list or whatever it might be called. If you given or ask for the wine list, please give them all to me. Not sure why some restaurants have a separate list. Seems as though some revenue might be lost if someone doesn't know to ask for the "other one"

A local high end Italian resturant [PBG]had two lists. One was for the 'good' stuff. He would decide whether he would provide the list to you. Bias!!! I then boycotted him, never ordered a bottle from him. Now he is gone an opened a smaller place in NPB. Still the same sh*$ with the list. [PS you locals might figure out who he is, place starts with "S".

I actually quite appreciate that... You could view it from a negative perspective like "If I don't like you, you don't get the best stuff". But you could also see it from a positive perspective: "I want to offer something special to my most precious clients". I have had some excellent wines in restaurants with an otherwise ordinary wine list. In one particular case I know the owner is a great wine connoisseur, but simply doesn't have the restaurant location to be selling premium wines. He can't stock a lot of expensive bottles, but does want to offer something special to a selected group of clients.

Originally posted by Qhdeputy:I don't like going to a restaurant and having to ask for the "cellar selection" wine list or whatever it might be called. If you given or ask for the wine list, please give them all to me. Not sure why some restaurants have a separate list. Seems as though some revenue might be lost if someone doesn't know to ask for the "other one"

A local high end Italian resturant [PBG]had two lists. One was for the 'good' stuff. He would decide whether he would provide the list to you. Bias!!! I then boycotted him, never ordered a bottle from him. Now he is gone an opened a smaller place in NPB. Still the same sh*$ with the list. [PS you locals might figure out who he is, place starts with "S".

I actually quite appreciate that... You could view it from a negative perspective like "If I don't like you, you don't get the best stuff". But you could also see it from a positive perspective: "I want to offer something special to my most precious clients". I have had some excellent wines in restaurants with an otherwise ordinary wine list. In one particular case I know the owner is a great wine connoisseur, but simply doesn't have the restaurant location to be selling premium wines. He can't stock a lot of expensive bottles, but does want to offer something special to a selected group of clients.

The regular list has a bunch of plonk, and a lot of bottles with a 3+ markup on them. Really soaking the general public.

Originally posted by Qhdeputy:I don't like going to a restaurant and having to ask for the "cellar selection" wine list or whatever it might be called. If you given or ask for the wine list, please give them all to me. Not sure why some restaurants have a separate list. Seems as though some revenue might be lost if someone doesn't know to ask for the "other one"

A local high end Italian resturant [PBG]had two lists. One was for the 'good' stuff. He would decide whether he would provide the list to you. Bias!!! I then boycotted him, never ordered a bottle from him. Now he is gone an opened a smaller place in NPB. Still the same sh*$ with the list. [PS you locals might figure out who he is, place starts with "S".

Originally posted by Qhdeputy:I don't like going to a restaurant and having to ask for the "cellar selection" wine list or whatever it might be called. If you given or ask for the wine list, please give them all to me. Not sure why some restaurants have a separate list. Seems as though some revenue might be lost if someone doesn't know to ask for the "other one"

A local high end Italian resturant [PBG]had two lists. One was for the 'good' stuff. He would decide whether he would provide the list to you. Bias!!! I then boycotted him, never ordered a bottle from him. Now he is gone an opened a smaller place in NPB. Still the same sh*$ with the list. [PS you locals might figure out who he is, place starts with "S".

Man, there have been a couple threads here recently about how much "somms" suck and since I am the beverage and wine director at our restaurant I was at first angered, but now I am more saddened but the amount of apparently inadequate somms out there. So many of your complaints seem obvious and understandable, it makes me frustrated that people can't seem to figure this stuff out. Esp. the vintage and spelling. Maybe it is because my mom is an English teacher but spelling errors freak me out and though they have occurred in the past, I have literally sleep about every one and the same may be said for vintages. I have been looking over menus for a future trip to SF and its amazing how many wine lists are lacking definition, whether it be vintage, region of some other factor that may influence a buyer's decision.

Well, in order to avoid being too long-winded, have faith! There are some who just want to offer and serve the best wines I can to whoever wants to buy them.

Originally posted by blakeybombs:Maybe it is because my mom is an English teacher but spelling errors freak me out and though they have occurred in the past, I have literally lost sleep about every one

Originally posted by blakeybombs:Man, there have been a couple threads here recently about how much "somms" suck and since I am the beverage and wine director at our restaurant I was at first angered, but now I am more saddened but the amount of apparently inadequate somms out there. So many of your complaints seem obvious and understandable, it makes me frustrated that people can't seem to figure this stuff out. Esp. the vintage and spelling. Maybe it is because my mom is an English teacher but spelling errors freak me out and though they have occurred in the past, I have literally sleep about every one and the same may be said for vintages. I have been looking over menus for a future trip to SF and its amazing how many wine lists are lacking definition, whether it be vintage, region of some other factor that may influence a buyer's decision.

Well, in order to avoid being too long-winded, have faith! There are some who just want to offer and serve the best wines I can to whoever wants to buy them.

Originally posted by Jochems:I actually quite appreciate that... You could view it from a negative perspective like "If I don't like you, you don't get the best stuff". But you could also see it from a positive perspective: "I want to offer something special to my most precious clients". I have had some excellent wines in restaurants with an otherwise ordinary wine list. In one particular case I know the owner is a great wine connoisseur, but simply doesn't have the restaurant location to be selling premium wines. He can't stock a lot of expensive bottles, but does want to offer something special to a selected group of clients.

does this make sense because there is a shortage of high quality wines available if he sells out of the good stuff that he cant find anything else of suitable quality {hello, this is France, oh im sorry sir, we're all out of wine.} or is it because high quality wine is a loss leader for him and he cant be selling the high quality wine below cost to everyone.